The 25-year-old Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City is old by National Basketball Association standards, but that’s about to change.
The home of the Utah Jazz is about to undergo a face lift of over $100 million according to Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune. While specifics of what the renovations will include and when they will be complete have yet to be released, there are some obvious areas that should see work.
Utah Jazz Planning Major Stadium Renovations
Improving the potential for monetization in the stadium should be a top priority. That could include more premium seating options, increased areas for concession and merchandise sales, and reduced overhead through increased energy efficiency.
It’s also uncertain exactly where the funds for these renovations will come from, though Jazz President Steve Starks has given us a hint toward answering that question.
“It’s not the Miller family’s style to always actively seek public assistance. We want to do this in a way that is sustainable and healthy for us and benefits the community.”
That isn’t a guarantee that the Jazz won’t take any public funding, however. Public funds for a stadium renovation could come in tandem with new construction and/or renovation of the community surrounding the stadium.
The hopes for increased revenue that will come because of the renovations are that it can be put back into the product on the court. The Jazz had the second-lowest payroll in the NBA in 2015-16, and their committed dollars right now for future seasons don’t project much higher. Another fact is that Utah hasn’t qualified for the postseason since the 2011-12 season, though correlation with low spending isn’t necessarily causation of undesirable results on the court.
Whether the wins on the court increase or not, the digs for the Jazz will be getting significant improvements over the coming years, meaning that at the very least the fan experience should rank in the top of the NBA.
